Folsom stylist shaves her hair to fight cancer

CourtesyFolsom Supercuts manager Olga Howerton holds a photo of Emma Young. Emma, 4, was diagnosed with leukemia at age 2 and hopes to attend the Roseville Galleria event to help shave Olga’s head.

Folsom Supercuts manager Olga Howerton will shave all 20-plus inches of her hair to help cure childhood cancer.

Howerton, 30, of Natomas, hopes to raise $30,000 in donations for St. Baldrick’s. Throughout the month of February, all of the Sacramento area Supercuts salons will be accepting donations to help Howerton reach her goal.

“We have been involved with St. Baldrick’s for a couple of years and hearing people’s stories touched me. I thought, ‘Why can’t I do that?’” Howerton said. “It’s only hair. It grows back.”

Funds raised at the St. Baldrick’s event, hosted by Keaton Rafael Memorial, will go toward childhood cancer research as well as to support local children with cancer and their families.

“I have been growing my hair out for the past year for this cause,” she said. “And I haven’t colored it in four years, so it is in good condition.”

Howerton said hearing stories of children battling cancer broke her heart, so she hopes with her donation the fight is one step closer to finding the cure to cancer.

“I think kids should be outside running around, not in the hospital and being poked with needles,” she said.

She will shave her head on Saturday, March 2, at the Roseville Galleria.

Since shaving all of her hair is a big commitment, she said as the day approaches, many people are asking if she is getting nervous. Howerton simply answers, not at all.

“I’m excited to have my hair go towards making children’s wigs through Locks of Love,” she said.

To help finish her fate, she said the head shaving day fell on her late mother’s birthday, March 2.

“After I realized the date, I knew it was meant to be,” Howerton said.

Howerton said locals can still help by donating to her cause online or at Folsom Supercuts, 900 E Bidwell St., Suite 500.

“We have a lot of great customers who have been donating and participating in this event all month. I would love to get as much help as we can for this wonderful cause,” Howerton said. “Every dollar counts and goes towards a great thing.”

For more information and to support Howerton, visit stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/582561/2013.